Breakaway group 'rejects terrorism' and is ready to end Mali conflict
Calls for investigation into reports of civilian executions and women being sexually abused
One of the main Islamist groups occupying northern Mali split yesterday, with the breakaway faction saying it was ready for talks to end a two-week-old French-led offensive, amid growing concerns over rights abuses by government troops.
Cracks emerged in the rebel front, however, when a new faction announced it had broken away from Ansar Dine (Defenders of the Faith).
The newly-formed Islamic Movement for Azawad said in a statement that it "rejected all forms of extremism and terrorism and was committed to fighting them", adding that it wanted a "peaceful solution" to the Mali crisis.
The use of the Tamasheq term Azawad appeared to further signal a willingness among the group's Tuareg ranks to distance themselves from al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Malian insurgency's mainly foreign leadership.
The statement said the new group was composed entirely of Malian nationals.
The new group is led by Alghabasse Ag Intalla, the scion of a leading Tuareg family from Kidal, and a former negotiator from the group's moderate wing.